Riverside High School offers “Option II” as a Physical Education Alternate Setting program to all 11th and 12th grade RHS student-athletes. This program meets the standard of 150 minutes of health, safety, and physical education per week as required by the State of New Jersey. 

In order to qualify for a Physical Education Waiver, a student must meet the following criteria:

• This program applies only for students participating in school-sponsored extracurricular sports.

• The student must be participating in an RHS sport over the fall, winter, and/or spring seasons in order to opt-out of Physical Education. Students are required to maintain good standing on the team. Any contradictory reports from a coach/director can result in a student’s removal from the Option II program. If a student leaves an athletic team for any reason, he/she will be required to return to the regular physical education class immediately.

• Students are required to take health education as per New Jersey Department of Education requirements. Therefore, students cannot opt-out of health or driver education.

• Students must apply for acceptance into the Option 2 program for EACH sport season they wish to participate in the program. Applications are available online and in the Athletic Office. Applications must be completed and turned into the Athletic Director, Ms. O’Halloran.

• Students must report to their assigned physical education class while their application is in review. 

• Students must submit their Option II applications for EACH sport season they wish to participate by the following deadlines:

  • Fall Sports: exemption is for MP 1 & MP 2 PE; deadline is August 19th

  • Winter Sports: exemption is for MP 2 & MP 3 PE; deadline is November 11th 

  • Spring Sports: exemption is for MP 3 & MP 4 PE; deadline is January 28th 

*No matter the sport season an athlete is participating in, there will be no exemptions from health education. 

• Guidance counselors will notify students of their application status and provide their new schedule if accepted. 

• Students are required to maintain good standing on the team. Any contradictory reports from a coach/director can result in a student’s removal from the Option II program. If a student leaves an athletic team for any reason, he/she will be required to return to the regular physical education class immediately.

• The student will report to a designated study hall each day in place of their PE class.

• If the student has any disciplinary infractions during this designated study hall time, he/she may be removed from the program.

Criteria and Grading:

• The student must meet the minimum requirement of 150 minutes of Physical Education per week (M-F) through his or her sport.

• The student must have the coach verify that the student was active for at least 150 minutes each week by maintaining a weekly log. The monthly attendance log must be signed by the coach and the student and submitted to their PE teacher. 

• Students will receive a grade of Pass (P) or Fail (F) at the end of each quarter. 100% compliance is required to receive a passing grade (P) for the quarter.

• Two late learning time log submissions may result in a failure.

• Any missed hours due to injury or illness must be documented and verified by a doctor’s note. Parent or coach notes will not excuse missed hours. 

• Any documentation that has been forged, plagiarized, or cannot be verified by the instructor/coach will result in a failing grade (F) for the quarter.